Let’s look at the pitchers. The A’s have offered Duchscherer and Saarloos the same amount — $925,000. They’re both fourth-year guys (arbitration awards rise in a player’s fifth and sixth years). They’re both asking for a little less than $1.5 million. If there’s no agreement by February, the arbitrator will decide on one of the two figures for each of them.

Who would you say is worth more money? An eighth-inning specialist with a sizzling 2.91 ERA and 1.10 WHIP last year (1.16 for his career) or a part-time fifth starter with an ERA of 4.75 and a WHIP of 1.66? Yeah. Doesn’t seem fair to Duke. But arbitration awards are formulaic, and since starters and closers get bigger bucks than set-up men in the free-agent market, the disparity may be getting mirrored here.

If I’m Duke’s agent, I’m whispering in Billy Beane’s ear that he could get that great young power outfielder he wants by trading Huston Street — and making my guy the closer.